Wickerman Festival Line-Up Announced

Reggae star Jimmy Cliff and electronic group Stereo MCs are among the acts at this year's Wickerman Festival.

They will be joined by singer Neneh Cherry, garage rockers The Sonics, psychedelic rocker Julian Cope, and hip-hop group The Sugarhill Gang at the Dumfriesshire festival on July 24-25.

Esperanza, the band who were playing at the Clutha Bar when the Police Scotland helicopter crashed on to the roof, will perform too.

Cliff, who is best known for hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now from the film Cool Runnings has won two Grammy Awards and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Brit Award winner Cherry is best known for songs Woman and Seven Seconds, and The Sonics went on to influence acts such as Nirvana, Bruce Springsteen, The Fall and The White Stripes.

Stereo MCs had their biggest hit in the 90s with Connected, Cope first rose to fame in post punk band Teardrop Explodes, and The Sugarhill Gang will be joined by lead rapper and main songwriter for Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five Melle Mel.

The Saints, Pere Ubu, TV Smith (The Adverts), Hector Bizerk, This is the Kit, The Amphetameanies, The Ramonas, Ela Orleans and Halfrican have also been announced.

Wickerman spokesman Brian Reynolds said: "This year's Wickerman Festival is shaping up to be an epic weekend and we know that fans will be blown away by the fantastic live performances that our latest batch of artists will deliver.

"Jimmy Cliff, The Sonics and The Sugarhill Gang are legendary, genre-defining artists who will ensure that this year's festival will be a brilliant celebration of music.''